By Jonathan Duwyn, UNEP
From bringing decision-makers and stakeholders from different sectors together, to helping defining investment priorities, the Technology Needs Assessment is a process that has the potential to offer many benefits to developing countries.
Firstly, the Technology Needs Assessment processhelps countries strengthen their coordination of climate change issues and existing committees or structures established to facilitate climate planning. It strengthens the knowledge and understanding of climate issues in specific sectors and its tools and methodologies can be used and applied for other planning processes even in non-climate areas.
Secondly, while they were originally developed for countries as a part of their engagement in the climate change convention, the identification and analysis of technology priorities to mitigate GHG emissions and reduce the climate vulnerability of sectors can be used to support the mainstreaming of climate change into national and sectoral planning processes. Thereby increasing the commitment and budget allocations for sustainable development.
Thirdly, as a country-driven process based on stakeholder consultation and engagement, a Technology Needs Assessment ensures country ownership. Country ownership and stakeholder engagement ensures sustainability and continuity in climate action and are increasingly critical requirements from donors and funders, including the main financial mechanisms under the climate change convention. Therefore, Technology Needs Assessments can help countries developing a strong pipeline of country owned sustainable development projects.
To summarize, the Technology Needs Assessment process ensures better country ownership of climate change actions by increasing the commitment and engagement of stakeholders, strengthening policies, plans and strategies, and developing project pipelines for donors, investors and the main funding mechanisms established under the convention.
Finally, at the upcoming COP25, governments will consider how to further enhance support for the implementation of climate technologies building on the results of the Technology Needs Assessment process.